“In the name of Spain, in the interest of Spain, in defense of coexistence between Spaniards, today I defend the amnesty in Catalonia for the events that occurred in the last decade,” Pedro Sánchez proclaimed before the federal committee of the PSOE. And the highest body of the party between congresses closed ranks, amidst applause, with the majority of its members standing.
Sánchez's step with the amnesty is irreversible, despite the fact that he has not yet guaranteed the support of Junts and ERC for his investiture. “Catalonia is ready for a total reunion,” he justified, to endorse an amnesty for those accused of the process as an “additional measure of grace” after the pardons of the last legislature.
The explicit recognition of the amnesty to be able to form a majority of investiture and legislature, which closes the door to a PP government with Vox, was welcomed by the vast majority of the federal committee. “It was very important to put an end to euphemisms,” highlighted a territorial leader.
Sánchez recognized and justified the amnesty to continue advancing in overcoming the fracture of 2017. He admitted that the pardons have already raised “legitimate doubts” among citizens and among the socialists themselves, in addition to provoking “extreme aggressiveness” from the right. “The grace measures were discussed, but the results are indisputable,” he defended. “In Catalonia the reunion is making its way day by day and the fracture is left behind,” he argued.
“Today Spain has a responsible government, which does not hide or look the other way when it comes to moving with a firm step towards political normalization in Catalonia,” he stressed. The pardons were a first step, but “they did not represent the definitive overcoming of the conflict.” The next step is amnesty. Although it is not an end in itself, nor the end of the path.
Sánchez justified his change of position due to 23-J, and needing parliamentary support among which, as he highlighted, up to 56 deputies "demand an amnesty to support the investiture."
“This measure is a condition for a government of progress and to avoid a government of the right and the extreme right,” he alleged. Since he does not have a majority, his investiture program “must incorporate demands from other groups.”
The PSOE leader acknowledged that he was not yet contemplating an amnesty: “It is true that we were not planning it for now, it was not our plan for this moment. But one cannot always choose the times when plans are made.”
“Courage also manifests itself by making a virtue of necessity,” he said. He thus assumed that he will make a virtue of necessity, because the amnesty "is the only possible way for there to be a government in Spain and not give Feijoo and Abascal a second chance." And because “I am certain that it will contribute to political normalization in Catalonia.” Sánchez was determined to promote it, "with the certainty that its fit, as we socialists will propose, will be fully constitutional." Amnesty, he defended, is a tool already used in other consolidated democracies.
“It is a means to advance on the path of concord and reunion and political normalization between Catalonia and Spain.” And the PSOE, he assured, now has the responsibility to take this step: “We cannot allow the past to close the doors of the future to us.” “First with the pardons and now with the amnesty we will make many Catalans feel more identified with our common project,” he stressed.
The federal committee approved, by acclamation, the question that will be asked to the militancy: “Do you support the agreement to form a government with Sumar and achieve the support of other political formations to achieve the necessary majority?” The consultation will take place electronically next week, and will culminate on Saturday, November 4, with the in-person vote. Up to 172,600 members of the PSOE, the PSC and the Youth of both parties have the right to vote.
The only “dissent” of weight in the committee was that of Emiliano García-Page. “We are also left alone with the absolute majority,” they replied in their federation, since Page is already the only regional president of the PSOE with an absolute majority. Some reproached him for his position and accused him of being “disloyal.” But he came out as he came in: “I haven't found any arguments to change my mind,” Page concluded.
